Monday, July 18, 2011

Pikangiukum suicides

The Ontario Chief Coroner's Office is releasing some startling research on a rash of suicides in Pikangiukum First Nation.  Between 2006 and 2008, 16 young people, aged 10 to 19, killed themselves in the community north of Red Lake.  Deputy Chief Coroner for Ontario Doctor Bert Lauwers says education is key to tackling the problem.  The community's only school burned down in 2007 and the government has not yet rebuilt it.